Summer Journal 2012, August 15

Today is Maria's Day, the biggest religious holiday of the year so there will be more activity in the village and for that matter across the country.  Lots of Maria's, Despina's and Panyiotis' will be celebrated.  A long church service and then huge dinners.  We will all go at 2 p.m. to Galitsano's Restaurant to celebrate Maria Karavasilis - her entire extended family will be there, and all of us so we will be a crowd.  I will take my movie camera.

Jaiden stayed last night with her cousins in the village.  She was so excited.  She's been swimming with them everyday, so she's gotten to know them.  She's an amazing nine-year old.  The first day she was here she made friends with a young girl, Georgia.  Georgia speaks no English, Jaiden no Greek - nonetheless they made the kind of conversations kids make.  We saw Georgia again yesterday with her Grandfather, Nicos, and cousins Nicoletta and Nicos.  I got everyones' pictures.  You can see how happy Jaiden is with this new "international" friendship:

The lykee, swimming, sun, and eating finally got to Alexander.  Nonetheless he rallied after lunch and went back to beach. We haven't seen him yet this morning, and I imagine he is sleeping in a bit later today.  Tomorrow we will go to a dinner in the evening at Touristico to celebrate another Mary who comes to the village every summer.  She's invited all of us.  On Friday Stell is having a barbecue  here for family.  Unfortunately, Carrie, Paris, Jaiden and Alexander must return next week, because Jaiden's school is resuming.  She will go home with many stories, and proud that she has learned to swim in the Aegean Sea.

Alexander Zonked

I finished The Warmth of Other Suns by Wilkerson yesterday.  What a tome; what a lot of research.  Stell and I have had an ongoing argument about the migration of African-Americans out of the South.  I feel this book proves my theory; however, I'm sure when he reads it (if he reads it), he will say he was right. The joy of marital debate.

Now I've started a new book called Foreign Tongue.  I can't remember the author.  Stell read it months ago and said it was light and funny.  Exactly what I need at the moment after The Warmth of Other Suns.  I've heard from Jan and Jill that they would like me to co-moderate a couple of forums in September.  Also, I've had David Heath and Pratt Cassity invited to the Kettering Foundation for some sessions on focus groups in early October.  It's so great to have the internet and not need to make all the connections when I get home.

The weather has been San Diego-perfect for the past four days.  It feels like autumn and I hope this is what we will have the last few weeks. 

P.S. Paris has installed all new screens in the house - what a dynamic improvement and he is weedeating the entire lawn.